Posted on 03/30/2014 12:13:38 PM PDT by patriot08
New better live web camera!
Extremely up close view of Phoebe and her new babies.
A new camera has been installed very close up so we may have the rare privilege of observing the feeding, care and fledgling of hummingbird chicks.
Take a break from all the depressing news of the day.
Phoebe Allen, the adorable little hummingbird now has two new babies. HERE
Absolutely cute overload.
Phoebe is a Channel Island Allen hummingbird who lives in Orange County, California. She has been hatching 4 to 5 clutches per year and her nest has been on net webcam since 2007. She builds her nests in a rose bush, and the nest is about the size of a golf ball, with eggs being about the size of a tic-tac candy. The season for nesting is October through May/early June, and Phoebe will lay four to five clutches per season. Two eggs are laid per clutch, they hatch after 17 days, and the chicks typically fly three to four weeks later. Phoebe will sometimes build a new nest, but frequently repairs old nests.
Phoebe
The hummingbird; one of God's most beautiful and enchanting creations
Amazing facts about the hummingbird: 'MAGIC IN THE AIR' (PBS)
I’m sure they could scare you, but doubt if these tiny things could inflict any damage. :)
“That beak hurts” I’m told.
Still was a surprise.
It didn’t attack after that either.
But it sure griped up a storm from the tree.
.
So glad you enjoyed the thread, and thanks to each of you for your contributions.
((hugs))
Katy
PS:
If anyone would like to be on a ping list:
Very low volume
Subjects: Interesting animals, Texas history
(Coming up; Battle of San Jacinto)
.
..and more ‘Texas Treasures’.
Welcome!
As an aside, a tiny bird that can do an amazing amount of damage for the size: peachface lovebird.
Parrots are cute, but make too much noise for me...besides they might not fit with all the cats. LOL
It's been such a strange weather winter....but our little darlings are on their way. Usually, In Connecticut the guys arrive around April 15th ....it's fun to watch their progress up the coast.
I live for those rubys.
“That beak hurts” I’m told.
‘Still was a surprise.
It didn’t attack after that either.
But it sure griped up a storm from the tree.’
________________________________________
One wouldn’t think they could hurt much with their beak ‘cause they’re so tiny. Guess they’re stronger than one would imagine.
Probably a male protecting his mate’s nest and territory.
Ever been ‘dived bombed’ by mocking birds protecting their nest? Now that is scary. :)
.
Yup.
My peachface, imaginitavely named “Peaches”, is quite the little beak fiend.
I have a scar on my thumb from where she exacted her toll of blood.
(She subsequently decided she likes me. I must be delicious.)
Lovebirds specifically and all hookbills are noise machines from sunup to sundown.
They also have an ocd need to chew.
On everything.
So they must be provided with toys to satisfy the destruction desire.
I crack jokes about how mankind would be doomed if lovebirds were merely cockatoo size.
But, I love my beak monster and would not trade her for anything.
Even if she did get loose and set the cat into terror panicked fleeing to his hiding place.
I was lucky that the mockingbird we had locally liked me and would show off.
And “talk”.
He would get mad if you didn’t say “ hello”, he’d forgive you if you played new phone ringtones for him.
Which he’d later mimic at the unsuspecting.
He disappeared after five years.
How long do they live?
.
Beautiful little birds...one of God’s most beautiful and enchanting little creations.
I’m no authority on hummingbirds. I just stumbled upon the Phoebe site and became enthralled with her- seeing at so very close range how she feeds and cares for them on the nest- and even after they fledge.
We have some hummer feeders out and there always seem to be hummers around all year here in S Texas.
Have no idea what species they are, but they’re so pretty.
.
LOL Think I’ll just admire birds outside in the trees.
Couldn’t bear the noise and chewing up things.
Those birds are pretty and entertaining, though.
Love to see parrots talk. They’re so cute.
I think mockingbirds live like 2-3 years outside and up to 10 in captivity from what I’ve read.
Love to hear them ‘sing’. They really do imitate so many different birds- and sometimes even ‘things’.
Had a mocker build a nest outside my bedroom window last Spring..woke me up with her and/or her mate’s singing each morning.
Kinda glad when the little ones fledged and they all went away. :)
.
Peaches tries valiantly to mimic.
But lovebirds are “not good mimics”.
(Understatement to the extreme.)
Female lovebirds are better mimics than males, males are more docile and easily handled.
Peaches says her name sorta, and a few other words.
But, being that lovebirds are terrible mimics, it is “ scratchy beaky noise that is oddly articulate in form.”
The local mockingbird would sing, pop into the air to display his wings, then sing some more.
He showed off his brood every time too.
We had to play sounds for them as well.
Somewhere there are a family of mockingbirds who mimic nextel ringtones.
.
I’ve heard of Mockingbirds even imitating odd things like a squeaky door or a car alarm. Mostly I hear them imitating cardinals or sparrows. LOL
It’s amazing that birds can imitate human speech.
When I was a kid, my father brought home a baby crow that had fallen out of its nest.
We raised him, feeding him using an eye dropper.
He followed us around like a puppy. And he was very QUIET.
He even learned to talk.
(Yes, crows really can mimic human words!) He could say, ‘Hello Joe’ (his name) and a few other words.
He was one of the best pets we ever had.
I’d take in another in a heartbeat.
If you ever find a baby crow, take him home and raise him.
Wonderful pets.
.
http://www.hummingbirds.net/species.html
You are very lucky to have year-round visitors! I am jealous.
Texas
Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Anna's, Rufous, Magnificent, Lucifer, Buff-bellied, Blue-throated, Costa's, Green Violet-ear, Allen's, Calliope, Broad-billed, Violet-crowned, White-eared, Green-breasted Mango, Berylline. Antillean Crested, Rufous-tailed.
Heard our mocker mimic car door lock sounds, ringtones, and as close as he could get to some song bits from the radio.
Catbirds will also mimic, but not as much as a mocker.
Crows are very smart birds.
They recognize specific people, some they like and some they hate.
Had one who would caw at me before doing a mimicked laugh noise.
I’m.in NY.
Mainly it’s rubythroats here.
But we’ve had some oddballs the past few years that just don’t look...right.
And they are very mindful of windows and cameras.
So trying to get pictures, you get a colored streak on the image.
Still wonder what that one was, I swear it looked yellow and had a largish splayed tail.
Which doesn’t match anything normal to NY.
bfl
You may have a wanderer. How fun!
Not sure what it could be.
A picture is a great help.
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/hummingbird/
....is a great site [you have to sign-up] for meeting all sorts of experienced birders, who may have an idea for you.
Weirder than anything.
Every time I’ve tried to get a pic, either the rubythroats start a feeder battle, or the oddball notices me trying to focus on him.
Result is the same every time.
This year we’re short a tree.
The hemlock came down during hurc sandy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.